title: Beyond polymer polarity: how the cytoskeleton builds a polarized cell.
abstract: Cell polarity relies on the asymmetric organization of cellular components and structures. Actin and microtubules are well suited to provide the structural basis for cell polarization because of their inherent structural polarity along the polymer lattices and intrinsic dynamics that allow them to respond rapidly to polarity cues. In general, the actin cytoskeleton drives the symmetry-breaking process that enables the establishment of a polarized distribution of regulatory molecules, whereas microtubules build on this asymmetry and maintain the stability of the polarized organization. Crosstalk coordinates the functions of the two cytoskeletal systems.
authors.affiliation: The Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 East 50th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64110, USA. rli@stowers-institute.org
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Gregg G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Gundersen
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D016764:Cell Polarity; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism*; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins